ICRC, NPA set to review port concession

The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA,are doing an in-depth study on the best mechanism for the review of the 11 years old port concession.

The Acting Director-General, ICRC, Chidi Izuwah, made this known in the latest publication of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) entitled: “The Shipper’’.

Izuwah, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, said there might be cases where some concessionaires might not have fully recouped their investments, pointing out that the review will not be based on emotions or man-knows-man, but, “It will be based on pure data because anything that needs to be done under the ICRC will be approved by the Federal Executive Council.

“So whatever the outcome of the review process, every Nigerian will know,’’ he said, adding that the commission has developed a disclosure framework. “It is a portal where the key information of every concession contract in the country will be disclosed to the public,’’ Izuwah said.

He made clear that every Nigerian would become an enforcer of concession and government agencies could be indirectly challenged, “if they are not living up to their responsibilities

“We are doing everything so that Nigerians can be aware and informed that things are being done in a transparent manner. The port concession is doing very well. We might complain about the inadequacies, but let us look at what the ports were about 20 years ago in terms of demurrage.”

Izuwah said the menace of wharf rats is gone for good. “Let us keep telling people that nobody hears about wharf rats any more. Wharf rats have been eliminated completely, because of port concession,’’ he said.

On the Shippers’ Council project on Truck Transit Parks, he said there would be a bankable study to be done to establish the optimal location to position the parks, saying the Federal Government is also aware that port connectivity with the rail is very key.

He said: “Look at what the Federal Government is doing about the Wharf – Apapa Road, the implementation may not be going as fast as it can because of funding, that is why we are working on the side to bring the private sector to help us.

“So, government is working day and night to create a better Nigeria for everybody,’’ Izuwah said.